Season guide · Vilnius · Lithuania
Vilnius in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: BigHead, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Cold and snowy, with the Christmas tree on Cathedral Square, quiet museums and low prices. Expect highs up to 0°C (32°F) and lows around -7°C (19°F), with about 32 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -7°C (19°F) to 0°C (32°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 32
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -2°C (28°F) | -7°C (19°F) | 11 | 7.8 h | 1/5 |
| February | -1°C (30°F) | -7°C (19°F) | 9 | 9.6 h | 1/5 |
| December | 0°C (32°F) | -4°C (25°F) | 12 | 7.3 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of -1°C (30°F) against a yearly 11°C (52°F), and 32 of the year's roughly 117 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Vilnius Light Festival — light installations around the city's birthday (usually late January)
- February: Restoration of the State Day — flags and celebrations (16 February)
- December: Christmas market on Cathedral Square (December)
Good choices for winter
Historic site · Old Town
Vilnius University
Start at the Great Courtyard and finish in the Littera bookshop, which is free to enter.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
Gallery · Old Town
MO Museum
Opened in 2018 in a white building designed by Daniel Libeskind on the edge of the Old Town, the MO Museum shows Lithuanian art from the 1960s onwards, including works made under Soviet censorship, alongside changing temporary exhibitions.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Gediminas Avenue
Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights
Allow time for the basement; it is the most powerful part of the visit and not suitable for young children.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Šnipiškės
Energy and Technology Museum
Housed in the city's first power plant, built in 1903 on the bank of the Neris, this museum keeps the original turbines and boilers and adds hands-on displays on electricity, engines and transport, including vintage cars.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Palace · Old Town
Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
Start with the archaeological route in the basement, which shows the original walls the reconstruction rests on.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Day trips in winter
- Europos Parkas (About 30 minutes by car) — An open-air museum of contemporary sculpture set in forest and meadows north of Vilnius, close to a point identified as the geographical centre of Europe.
- Hill of Crosses (About 2 hours 30 minutes each way) — A small hill near Šiauliai covered in tens of thousands of crosses, crucifixes and rosaries left by pilgrims, a symbol of Lithuanian faith and resistance that survived repeated Soviet bulldozing.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Vilnius?
It is a trade-off: Cold and snowy, with the Christmas tree on Cathedral Square, quiet museums and low prices. The best months overall are May–September.
+What is the weather like in Vilnius in winter?
Highs of up to 0°C (32°F) and lows around -7°C (19°F), with about 32 rainy days over the season.